Abstract

Inhomogeneous broadening is a ubiquitous feature of condensed phase molecular spectroscopy. While spectral hole burning, fluorescence line narrowing, photon echoes, and other related techniques have enjoyed varying degrees of success in exposing the underlying homogeneously broadened spectra and dynamics, complete unraveling of the effects of environmental disorder requires the ability to perform meaningful spectroscopic measurements on individual members of the ensemble.¹ Over the past few years, three groups have demonstrated the feasibility and utility of several types of electronic spectroscopy at the single- molecule level.² We have recently extended these studies into the realm of single-molecule vibrational spectroscopy, which should allow much more detailed probing of the local environment of individual chromophores in disordered solids.^3-5

© 1994 Optical Society of America